Lawn weeder



May 23, 1944-.

F. B. HARDMAN LAWN WEEDER Filed Jan. 8, 1942 2 Z15.Hardman Patented May23, 1944 siren STATES TENT? oFFlcE; v

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a weeder and more particularly to a weederadapted to pull or extract weeds or undesirable plants such asdandelions or plantains from a lawn so that the roots will be extractedfrom the earth and will not continue to grow as frequently occurswherein using other weeding tools the root is cut or broken off so thata portion thereof is left in the ground.

Still another aim of the invention is to provide a tool of very simpleconstruction capable of being operated with a minimum of effort on thepart of the operator and from a standing position and without stooping.

Still another aim of the invention is to provide a lawn weeder whichwill extract undesirable weeds or plants without digging a largeunsightly hole in a lawn in order to fully extract the weed or plantroot.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter becomemore fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, whichillustrates a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the lawn weeder in anapplied position,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, partlyin elevation, showing the headed end of the tool in its appliedposition, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing the tool in aninoperative position and with the support disposed against the handle ofthe tool.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein like referencecharacters designate like or corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views, designates generally the lawn weeder in its entiretyand which includes an elongated tool handle ll, similar to aconventional hoe or rake handle. On one end of the handle II is mounteda head |2 which includes a socket portion l3 which engages the end M ofthe handle I l. The socket portion I3 is provided with correspondingstraps |5 which project from one end thereof toward the opposite end ofthe handle H and which are outwardly bowed in cross section for fittingagainst a handle. A rivet l6 and a pin extend through the handle I andthe straps l5 for securing the head l2 to the handle.

The head I2 is provided with a blade I8 which forms an extension of theopposite end of the socket Hi and which projects outwardly from thehandle end M. The blade I8 is elongated and arcuately shaped in crosssection and i tapered toward its free end and is substantiallysemicircular in cross section at its inner end. An outwardly openingsubstantially V-shaped notch i9 is formed in the outer end of the bladel8 and the edges 20 thereof are beveled on the outer, convex side of theblade Hi to form sharpened cutting edges.

A support, designated generally 2|, includes a substantially U-shapedbar 22, the legs of which are provided with converging portions 23 neartheir free ends for offsetting their terminals 24 inwardly of oneanother relatively to the portions 25 of the legs which project from theends of the intermediate portion 26 of the bar 22. The terminals 24 aredisposed on the outer sides of the straps I5 and a bolt 2'! extendsthrough the handle I I, the straps l5, and loosely through the terminals24 for swingably mounting the support 2| on the handle The bolt 21 isprovided with a threaded end to receive a nut 28 which retains theterminals 24 in engagement with the bolt. The bolt 21 is disposedbetween the rivet I6 and the pin I1 and extends in substantially thesame direction as the pin. As seen in Figure 3, the ends of the pin l1project'outwardly from the straps I5 for a purpose that will hereinafterbe described. The legs of the bar 22 are connected intermediate of theirends by means of a rod 29 which holds the legs properly spacedrelatively to one another. A plurality of claws 30 are secured to theinner side of the intermediate portion 26 at corresponding ends thereof.The claws 30 are provided with tapered free ends which project laterallyfrom the same edge of the intermediate portion 26 and which are bent toproject outwardly and at substantially an oblique angle to thelongitudinal axis of the support 2|, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2.

The pin I1 is disposed so that its projecting ends will be engaged bythe legs of the bar 22 to limit the swinging movement of the free end ofthe support 2| in a direction toward the blade l8 so that when the endsof the pin I! are engaged by the legs of the bar 22 the support will beprojecting outwardly from the handle I I. This will be the position thatthe support 2| will normally assume when the tool H1 is in use, due tothe fact that the blade I8 and the support 2| are disposed on the sameside of the handle I l as the convex or outer side of the blade I8 whichforms its under side. Consequently, when the free end of the blade I8 isdriven into the earth, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, to cause the notch Hito engage around the root of a plant such as a dandelion or plantain,the support 2| will assume a position so that the claws 30 willpenetrate the earth to cause the support to assume the position as seenin Figures 1 and 2. The blade I8 is pushed forwardly sufficiently sothat its edges 20 will cut into the plant root enough to efiectivelygrip it and the claws 30 will yield sufficiently in the earth to permita suflicient rocking movement of the support 2| relatively to the earth,to allow the blade I 8 to be thus advanced. By a downward pressure onthe handle II at its opposite or upper end, the blade I8 will be swungupwardly by the handle ll rocking on the support 2! at the pivot 21, tolift the plant upwardly to extract the root thereof from the earth. Theclaws 30 in addition to permitting the limited rocking movement of thesupport 2|, relatively to the ground, will prevent the support fromsliding relatively to the ground. When the tool I0 is not in use thesupport 2| is disposed against the handle H, as seen in Figure 3, andextends in a direction away from the head [2.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously beresorted to, provided they fall Within the spirit and scope of theinvention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims, as only apreferred embodiment thereof has been disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A lawn weeder comprising a blade member having a socket portion, ablade portion extending from one end thereof, straps extending from theother end of the socket portion, a handle extending into the socketportion between the straps and extending beyond the free ends of thestraps, a support device, and an element pivotally mounting the supportdevice passing through the support device, straps and handle.

2. A lawn weeder according to claim 1 wherein said blade member is inone piece, and said socket portion extends approximately 360 deg. aroundthe handle.

FRENCH B. HARDMAN.

